Process to combat harmful organisms originating in seeds or soil by means of seed treatment

Abstract

A process for combating harmful organisms on seeds wherein said seeds are treated by irradiation with low-energy electrons in combination with application of microorganisms antagonistic to said harmful organisms.

We claim: 
     
       1. A seed treating process to combat organisms originating in seeds or soil which comprises: irradiating seeds with low energy electrons; and   subsequently subjecting said seeds to an application of antagonistic bacterial or fungal microorganisms of genera selected from the group consisting of Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Trichoderma, Chaetomium, Epicoccum and Penicillium, which microorganisms are antagonistic to harmful fungal organisms in seeds or soil.   
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1, wherein said seed treatment with antagonistic microorganisms against harmful fungal organisms is carried out immediately after the irradiation of the seeds with low energy electrons in a continuous process. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the seeds irradiated with low energy electrons are subjected to a treatment with antagonistic microorganisms against harmful fungal organisms prior to or during sowing. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the seeds are subjected to an irradiation with low energy electrons and the application of antagonistic bacteria or fungi which either remain on the surface of the seeds, in the sub-surface or interior region of the seed corn, colonize a surface region of the hypocotyl of the seed corn or undergo root associations and symbioses with an embryo plant following from the seeds. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 1, wherein antagonistic microorganisms are used as growing cells or in their dormant forms on conjunction with carrier substrates. 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 5, wherein antagonistic microorganisms are used as growing cells or in their dormant form on carrier substrates, bound with at least one member selected from nutrients and bonding agents. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 5, wherein antagonistic microorganisms are used as nutrient suspensions. 
     
     
       8. A process according to claim 4, wherein bacterial and fungal antagonists and, in addition, the culture filtrates and metabolic products thereof are used. 
     
     
       9. A process according to claim 1, wherein the antagonistic activities take place within a temperature range of from 0.5° to 35° C. 
     
     
       10. A process according to claim 1, wherein said antagonistic micoorganism is a bacteria selected from the group consisting of IMET 11424, IMET 11425, IMET 11426, IMET 11427, and IMET 11428 or an antagonistic fungi selected from the group consisting of IMET 43920, IMET 43921, IMET 43922, IMET 43923, and IMET 43924, wherein said microorganisms are used at 10 4  to 5 ×10 10  cfu/ml or g. 
     
     
       11. A process according to claim 1, wherein 10 to 5,000 ml or g of the antogonistic microorganisms are used per 100 kg of seeds.